Electrical control apparatus



C. H. KOEHLER. ELECTRICAL CONTROL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29, I919.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- A A ITO/Mi) C. H. KOEHLER.

ELECTRICAL CONTROL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29, l9l9.

1,358,082. P wntedNov. 9,1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVE/WOI? 2%4 AMA UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. KOEHLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO EFFICIENCY MILEAGE RECORDER (30., OF HIGHLAND PARK, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION OF KENTUCKY.

ELECTRICAL CONTROL APPARATUS.

Application filed October 29, 1919.

.hicago, county of Cook, and State of l llinois. have invented certain new and useful improvements; in Electrical Control Appaof which the following is a specificav invention relates to electrical apparaeliii g electrical operations, as indiracion, recording, counting, etc, proportional the number of revolutions of the a vehicle and particularly of an i. ropclled railway car. ivcntion resides in electrical circuit ing apparatus operated by the vehil applied upon the end thereof journal box or housing. iivention resides also in a system of to; eferred to wherein the elecsive means is in such wise related to the eler :il circuits of any electrically cratrd iway car that there is impressed con s tably reduced voltage.

in illustration of some of the various 2 my invention may take, reference is accompanying drawings, in

to thra side elevational view of the rolling mechanism.

. sectional view of the same ne 2-2 of Fig. 1.

side elevational view of the \vn in Fig. 1 with parts removed 5% showing the contacts in different ltositioii.

' 3. is top plan view of the end of a axle having my circuit conmechanism applied thereto.

.3 is a front elevational View of the diagrammatic view illustrating em in which the aforesaid voltl is obtained, and illustrating or application of my circuit con n" ban-cm.

ng to Fig. l, A is a stationary circnpped member extending through a hing in the rotary metal ring l' ha ing the counterbore b receiv- (r of the metal member A. "he mcmbcr A in operative position .he ring B is the back plate C having registering with the holes 0 through Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

Serial No. 334,251.

the ring member B, screws cl, Fig. 5, extending through the holes in members B and G and securing them to the end of the car axle or journal J concentric therewith.

Extending through the member A at its center is the collar e of a stud 7' extending through an axial hole in the member C and upon which is threaded the nut 9 whereby the stud f and its collar 6 are secured to the plate C. Extending into the cavity or cup of the member A is the cam h integral with or secured to the collar 6 and stud f, and rotating therewith. A bracket 71 is secured by screw 7' upon the bottom of the ring member A within its cavity or recess. Secured upon the bracket 71 is the yielding or spring member Z: constituting a contact arm actuated by the cam h and having a bias for movement in such direction as to separate the contact Z at the end of the arm k, as indicated in Fig. 1, away from the cooperating stationary contact m carried upon the resilient or yielding stationary contact arm n insulated from member A and secured at 0 upon the inner end of the member 19 secured upon member A and preferably of insulating material. Extending through the member 2') a conductor g in electrical communication with the contact arm n. The conductor 9 is connected exteriorly to the in ember 7) with a flexible insulated conductor 1' terminating in a metallic clip. structure s comprising the member If having a hole 2.1, and a resilient hook-shaped member 4) longitudinally slotted to receive the member I. This form of clip terminal is preferred, though not essential, because under the conditions of jar attendant upon railway or similar trafiic it maintains satisfactory electrical connection with the remainder of its circuit and partakes of the jar and vibration without breakage of connection with the insulated conductor 7 and prevents rupture of that conductor due to continued vibration.

-A closing cap D is held by screws 10 to the ring member A and is provided with a channel-shaped radially extending arm a: which shields or covers the member 72 and serves to prevent rotation of the member and its attached parts when the member B rotating with the axle J.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. l and 5. the structure hereinbefore described shown secured upon the end of the axle the inner end of the bolt (5 is the nut (Z und r which is disposed the insulated washer c between which and the inner wall of the journal box H is secured the member 7 hav ing the two inwardly extending arms 9 and 7&1 having at their ends inwardly turned pins or extensions i and j between which is received the aforesaid arm a; of the cover late D on the member A, whereby the n1e1nher A is held against rotation notwithstanding rotation of the ring B with the axle and journal J.

Car axles partake of end play, and to allow for such end play the pins or inward extensions 2' and y' are provided, of suitable length that for all possible positions during end play of the journal J the member :0 will always be hcldbetwecn the pins or extensions to prevent rotation of the member A, the arm a playing backwardly and forwardly longitudinally between the pins 6 and 9' On the inner end of the bolt a is a post or pin 76 received in the hole in of the terminal clip upon the conductor 1 the spring hook end 11 securely holding the clip to the pin or post 76 At its outer end there is held to the bolt (4 by the nut m the terminal a of a conductor in the circuit controlled by the contact mechanism described.

The bolt (1 performs the dual function of forming an electrical connection with the flexible conductor 9 oil? the contact mechanism and securin in position the pins or members 2' and j for allowing end play and yet preventing rotation of the member A and its attached. parts. The arm equivalent in cooperation with the pins 2' and ,5 or equivalent structure, permits also variation in distancevertically oi the axle or journal with respect to the journal or bearing; structure, in that, after consioerable wear oi the ournal brasses, new brass-es may be inserted without effect upon the cooperation of the arm a" with pins 2' and l hat is to say, the structure described is independent of bearing wear or hearing; repla' ement.

In F 6 of electrical circuits in which the above de-. scribed contacting mechanism is utilh able. F represents a trolley wire, third rail or other contact conductor in connection with the feeder system or oenerator of an electric railway system. Vl ith the conductor F engages the traveling contact lV, as a trolthere is shown an arrangement 7 :neeaoee ley wheel, contact shoe or the like, carried by the car driven by the electric motor comprising the armaturc'lE and field winding S in a circuit between the trolley vheel ll and the track or return rail through any suitable railway motor controller indicated herein at (i. l l hen the controller G is in position to energize the motor ES, current; may pass from the wire F, through trolley wheel ll", controller (3', and resistance unit 0 of, for example, 2000 ohms on a 600 volt system, and coil 79 of a relay to the track or earth return This will cause attraction of the relay armature 9 in opposition to spring r against the "front contact 8 whereby current can flow, independently of the controller G, from wire F, contact wheel W,

7 through resistance unit 5 to earth or track return The total resistance of the unit t may be, for example, 10,000 ohms, of which about three-fourths is comprised between its terminal a and. the connection 0 and about one-fourth between the connection o and its lower terminal 10 the relay armature being in communication with the aforesaid connection o By this arrangement the "full voltage of the power circuit is not operative in the circuit controlled by the relay armature or tongue but only about one-fourth of the total voltage is so operative, it being understood, however, that any suitable traction of the entire voltage may be employed, though a. small fraction is preferred. llhen the relay winding; 0 deenernized, as when the circuit through the motor ES is open, the spring 0' retracts the relay tongue againstthe baclr contact 50 The relay contacts 8 and m are connected, respectively, with terminals of electro-magnets whose coils are and 2 whose other terminals connect with conductor a whose terminal is a above described, in commu nication with the bolt (1, and through it with th conductor 1 and the contact arm a of the contact mechanism of which the contact arm is in electrical. communication with the earth or track return B through to metallic members A, P k

a and the axle J and the. car wheel, not shown. The electromagnets 1 and .2 or either of them, may be utilized for any suitable purpose. Here they are shown as cooperating with their arinatures Z5 and c of step-bystep count ers, indicators crrecorders (Z 6 which may, for example, record or indicate the mileage traveled by the car on which it is carried The operation is as follows:

its the carwheel travels along; the track or r il its axle or journal J rotates, thereby the ring B and plate C, the latter which accordingly rothe stud f and the ial with-the journal J and he member is preventthe car wheel, ed from rotation as described, and therefore the members B and C in effect rotate upon the stationary member A. As a result the cam it rotates with respect to the contact arm Z: periodically bringing its contact 1 into engagement with the contact m upon the contact arm 'n in electrical communication with the conductor 9 which may form part of any suitable circuit for any control, indicating or other purpose.

When the cam it passes out of engagement with the arm is, the latter, due to its bias, separates the contact I from contact m, thereby rupturing the circuit, which is not again closed until the cam h reengages the arm it. By the mechanism described, there- Fore, there is for each revolution of the car axle J an engagement of the contacts n and m with each other and closure of circuit between trolley wire F and track or return rail B through one or the other of the magnets y or .2 depending upon the position of 'the relay tongue 9 which in turn is dependent upon whether or not the electric motor ES is energized and driving the car. Accordingly the indicator or recorder 01 will be operative only when the car is being driven by the motor, while the recorder or indicator 0 will be operated only when the power is off and the car coasting.

The cam 72. or equivalent means for actuating the movable contact may be of either conducting or insulating material. When of conducting material, as for example steel,

it serves by engagement with the contact arm to effect, independently of the bracket structure and member A, a low resistance connection with the axle or journal J, as through the members C and B.

What I claim is:

1. In, a system of the character described, the combination with a power circuit, of a car driving motor, circuit controlling mechanism operated a number of times dependent upon the distance traveled by the car, a resistance connected across said power circuit, a circuit tapped ofi a part of said resistance controlled by said circuit controlling mechanism and independent of said motor, recording or indicating mechanism, and a winding in said last named circuit controlling said last named mechanism.

2. In a system of the character described, the combination with a power circuit, of a car driving motor, circuit controlling mechanism operated a number of times dependent upon the distance traveled by the car, a resistance connected across said power circuit, a circuit including said circuit controlling mechanism and a fraction of said resistance, said circuit having branches including electro-responsive means, recorder or indicator mechanism controlled by each of said means, ano electro-responsim means bringing said branches respectively into circuit as said motor is or is not energized.

3. The combination with a car axle, of circuit controlling mechanism actuated by said axle and comprising a ring member secured upon the end of said axle and rotating therewith, of a stationary annular member coaxial with said axle, fixed and movable contacts carried by said stationary member, and means carried by said ring member for moving said contacts with respect to each other.

el. The combination with a car axle, of circuit controlling mechanism comprising relatively rotatable coaxial members, means securing one of said members upon the end of said axle coaxial therewith, contact members carried by the other of said members, means carried by said one of said members causing movement of said contact members with respect to each other, and means for preventing rotation of said other of said members.

5. The combination with a car axle, of circuit controlling mechanism comprising relatively rotatable coaxial members, means securing one of said members upon the end of said axle coaxial therewith, relatively movable contacts carried by the other of said members, means rotating with said one of said members moving said contacts with respect to each other, an arm secured to said other of said members, and stationary means }')IBVI1tiI1g rotation of said arm.

6. The combination with a car axle having end play, of circuit controlling mechanism comprising relatively rotatable coaxial members, means securing one of said members upon the end of said axle coaxial therewith, relatively movable contacts carried. by the other of said members, means rotating with said one of said members moving said contacts with respect to each other, an arm secured to said other of said members, and stationary means preventing rotation of said arm while ermitting movement thereof during end p ay of said axle.

7. The combination with a car axle, of circuit controlling mechanism comprising a member secured upon the end of said axle,

another member within said first named member and with respect to which said first named member is rotatable, said members being in electrical communication with each other and said axle, relatively movable contacts carried by said other of said members, a-cam carried by said one of said members for actuating said contacts, a member of insulating material carried by said other of said members preventing rotation thereof and carrying one of said contacts, the other of said contacts connected with said other of said members. I

8. The combination with a car axle and a journal box, of circuit controlling mechanism housed within said box comprising coaxial members rotatable with respect toeach other, one of said members secured to the end of said axle, the other of said members carrying relatively movable contacts one of which is in electrical communication with said axle, means supporting the other of said contacts upon and insulating it from said other of said members, means rotatable with said one of said members for moving said contacts with respect to each other, an arm attached to said other of said members, and means carried by said journal box for preventing rotation of said arm.

9. The combination with a car axle and a journal box, of circuit controlling mechanism housed within said box comprising coaxial members rotatable with respect to each other, one of said members secured to the end of said axle, the other of said members carrying relatively movable contacts one oi which is in electrical communication with said axle, means supporting the other of said contacts upon and insulating it from said other of said members, means rotatable with said one of saic members for moving said contacts with resaect to eachother, i arm attached to said other of said members, and means carried by said journal box preventing rotation of said arm and allowing movement thereof with end play of said axle.

10. The combination with a car axle and a journal box, of circuit controlling mechanism housed within said box comprising coaxial. members rotatable with respect to each other, one of said members secured to the end of said axle, the other or said members carrying relatively 'movable contacts one of which is in electrical communication with said axle, means supporting the other of said contacts upon and insulating it from said other of said members, means rotatable with said one of said members for moving said contacts with respect to each other, an arm attached to said other oi said members, means carried by said journal box for preventing rotation of said arm, and an electrical connection to said circuit controlline mechanism through a wall of said j ournal box.

11. The combination with a car axle, of circuit controlling mechanism comprising a member secured upon the end. thereoi, second member coaxial with said axle and having a bearing within said first named'memher, said second member having a cavity, a contact within said cavity in electrical communication with said axle, a cooperating contact supported upon and insulated from said second member within said cavity, means movable with said first named member for moving said contacts with respect to each other, a cover member secured to said second member and having an arm, a connection with the other of said contacts supported by said arm, and means for preventing rotation of said arm. 7

incense 12. The combination with a car axle, oi": circuit controlling me 'ha i m comprising a member secured pen the end'oi' said axle, a second member having a bearing for said member co:.' with said axle, relatively movable co; ied by said second member, means carried by said first named member rotatin thereui h for actuating said contacts with re 'ZEC't to each other, an arm secured to said second member, a member of insulating material ciated with said arm secured to said second member and supporting one of said contac s, and means for preventing rotation of saic arm.

is. The combination with a car axle, of circuit controlling mechanism comprisinga member secured upon tile end of said axle,

a second member having a bearing for said said said 1 1 LLL tacts, means for preventing rotation of saidarm, a flexible connection extending to said member of ins dating material, a journal box supporting said means preventing rotation oi said arm, and an electrical coni'iection through a wall of said box to said -flexible connection.

1%. The combination with a car axle having end play, of journal box, circuit con trolling mechanism housed within said box and compri ing a member secured upon the end of said axle, a member coaxial with said axle secured to said first named member and rotatable with respect thereto, circuit breakand closing mechanism carried by said second member, means rotatable with said first named member for actuating said circuit breaking and closing mechanism, mem bers supported by said journal box and extending substantially parallel with the axis of said axle and angularly spaced from each other, and an arm secured to said second member held between said spaced members andpartaking of longitudinal move ment between said spaced members with end play of said axle. V

15. The combination with a rotating shaft, of circuit controlling mechanism comprising relatively rotatable coaxial members carried by said shaft and one of which is secured upon and rotates with said shaft, an arm on another of said members, and'means engaging said arm to prevent rotation of said other or" said members.

16. Qhe combination with a rotating shaft having end play, of circuit controlling mechrela- Y anism comprising relatively rotatable coaxial members one of which is secured upon the end of said shaft, an arm on another of said members, and means engaging said arm to'prevent rotation of said other of said members and allowing longitudinal move ment of said arm during end play of said shaft.

17. The combination with a shaft and a journal box therefor, of circuit controlling mechanism comprising coaxial members rotatable with respect to each other and one of which is secured upon the end of said shaft,

an extension on another of said members, and means secured upon said journal has. within the same engaging said extension to prevent rotation of said other of said meznbers.

18. The combination with a shaft having end play and a journal box therefor, of cir' cuit controlling mechanism comprising coi EQFJDGTS rotatable with respect to each r and one of which is secured upon the said shaft, an extension on another of said members, and means secured upon said journal box within the same engaging l extension to prevent rotation of said extension and allowing longitudinal movement thereof during end play of said shaft.

19. The combination with a rotating shaft, of circuit controlling mechanism comprising relatively rotatable coal. a members carried by said shaft and one of which is securet upon and rotates with said shaft, an arm on another of said members, means engaging said arm to prevent rotation of said other of said members, and a circuit comprised in part of said shaft and controlled by said circuit controlling mechanism.

20. The combination with a rotating shaft having end play, of circuit controlling mechanism comprising relatively rotatable coaxial members one of which is secured upon the end of said shaft, an arm on another of said members, means engaging said arm to prevent rotation of said other of said members and allowing longitudinal movement of said arm during end play of said shaft, and a circuit comprised in part of said shaft and controlled by said circuit controlling mechanism.

21. The combination with a shaft and a journal box therefor, of circuit controlling mechanism comprising coaxial members rotatable with respect to each other and one of which is secured upon the end of said shaft, an extension on another of said members, means secured upon said journal box within the same engaging said extension to prevent rotation of said other of said members, a circuit comprised in part of said shaft and controlled by said circuit controlling mechanism, and an electrical connection to said circuit controlling mechanism extending through awall of said journal box.

othe

22. The combination with arotating shaft, of circuit controlling mechanism comprising a member carried by said shaft and rotating therewith, a second member carried by said first named member and rotatable relatively thereto, and means holding said second named member against rotation.

The combination with a rotating shaft, of circuit controlling mechanism comprising relatively rotatable coaxial members carried by said shaft, one of said members fixed to and rotating with said shaft, the other of said members bearing on said one member and held against longitudinal move- .ment relatively thereto, and means holding said other member against rotation;

24. The combination with a rotating shaft having end play, of circuit controlling mechanism comprising relatively rotatable coaxial members carried by said shaft, one of said members fixed to and rotatable with said shaft, the other of said members bearing upon said one member and held against longitudinal movement relative thereto, and means holding said other member against rotation and allowing longitudinal movement thereof during end play of said shaft.

25. The combination with acar axle, of circuit controlling mechanism actuated by said axle comprising a ring member secured upon said axle and rotating therewith, an annular member bearing on said ring member and held against longitudinal movement relatively thereto, and means holding said.

annular member against rotation.

26. The combination with a car axle having end play and a journal box, of circuit controlling mechanism carried by said axle and housed within said box comprising members rotatable with respect to each other, one of said members secured to said axle and rotating therewith, the other of said members bearing on said one member and held against longitudinal movement relative thereto, an arm on said other member, and stationary means carried by said journal box engaging said arm and preventing rotation thereof while permitting movement thereof during end play of said axle.

27. The combination with a rotary shaft, of circuit controlling mechanism compris ing relatively rotatable coaxial members, one of which is secured upon the end face of said shaft, an arm on another of said members, and means engaging said arm to prevent rotation of said other of said members.

28. The combination with a rotating shaft, of a circuit controlling mechanism comprising relatively rotatable coaxial members carried by said shaft and one of which is secured upon the end face of said shaft, an arm on another of said members, and means engaging said arm to prevent rotation of said other of said members.

Q9. The combination with a rotating shaft, of circuit controlling mechanism comprising a member secured upon the end face of said shaft and rotating therewith, a second member carried by said first named member and rotatable relatively thereto, and means holding said second named member against rotation.

30. The combination with arotating shaft and journalbox therefor, of circuit controlling mechanism comprising a member upen 116 end of said shaft and rotating therewith, a second member bearing upon said first named member and rotatable relatively thereto, a projection on said second named member, and means on said journal box engaging said projection to prevent rotation of said second named member.

, 3l. The combination with a car 3Xl,'0f circuit controlling mechanism actuated by said axle comprising a ring member secured upon the end face of said axle and rotating therewith, an annular member bearing on said ring member and held against longitudinal movement. relatively thereto, and means holding said annular member against rotation.

32. The combination with a car axle and a journal box therefor, of circuit controlling mechanism actuated by said axle comprising a ring member secured upon the end ace of said axle and rotating therewith, an annular member bearing on said rin member and held against longitudinal movement relatively thereto, a projection on said annular member, and means on the Wall of said journal box en 'raging said projection to prevent rotation. of said'annular member.

In testimony "whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature this 28th day of Uctober 1919.,

CHARLES H. KGEHLER. 

